Japan shut out on Day 1 at worlds

BUDAPEST – Japan took a backseat on Monday, failing to reach the medals podium on the opening day of the wrestling world championships — the first senior competition since the decision to continue wrestling at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Iran won two of the gold medals on offer while 2010 bronze medalist Yasuhiro Inaba and tournament debutants Takahiro Inoue and Takeshi Yamaguchi were each left out of the medals at 55 kilograms, 66 kg and 96 kg in the men’s freestyle.

Inaba, who had a bye into the second round, lost by technical fall to Asian champion Amit Kumar of India and hurt his left shoulder in a fall in his repechage match against France’s Zoheir El Ouarraqe. Iran’s Hassan Rahimi beat Kumar in the final for the gold.